THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VI. 251 



for all time to come, and that its good points cannot be too highly 

 praised. My own experience in raising alfalfa has been somewhat limited, 

 though I have had abundant opportunities to observe what others are 

 doing with it. 



I sowed my first piece four years ago about the first of May, had a 

 fairly good stand, but a better stand of weeds. These I mowed and left 

 on the ground, which proved to be a mistake, as the weeds were so 

 heavy they killed the alfalfa where it was densely covered. In the fall 

 it stood in patches, but the partial stand was so luxuriant, and looked 

 so inviting to hungry stock that I pastured it, which proved to be another 

 misake. In the spring following, it was so scattering and thin that I 

 plowed it up and planted with cane ssed, which, as I afterward learned, 

 was still another mistake; I should have disced and resowed. My second 

 effort which has proven a success, was made two years ago on creek bot- 

 tom land, on soil which has naturally a mellow surface, and a sub-soil as 

 porous as a sieve. It was a five-acre plat that was thickly studded with 

 elderberry bushes. The ground had been previously corned from year 

 to year for more than forty years. I plowed the ground the first of May, 

 harrowed and sowed the seed broadcast, twenty pounds to the acre; then 

 harrowed it twice and rolled the ground. The seed came up very evenly, 

 and likewise the weeds, which were cut three times during the summer. 

 Did not get any crop the first year. 



I sowed the seed alone, as I do not consider a nurse crop necessary 

 and the weeds were all removed at each cutting. Alfalfa must have air 

 and sunlight. I learned from my former experience that a very small 

 bunch of weeds or hay will kill every spear under it. I let to go into 

 winter quarters with a good growth for protection from freezing. Did 

 not pasture any the first year. This, the second year, I have cut that hay 

 the fourth time and have pastured it after the last cutting with cattle, 

 horses and hogs, and that after the frost came. Have not had any 

 trouble with bloat. While I did not weigh it all as it was harvested, yet 

 enough was weighed to satisfy me that it yielded at the very least calcu- 

 lation two tons to the acre the first three cuttings, and one ton at the 

 last, making seven tons for the year. I mentioned above that this 'five- 

 acre piece was thickly set with elders. These elders have all disap- 

 peared. Four cuttings per year is too many in one year. I have never 

 seen this mentioned in print, but my opinion is that alfalfa will kill out 

 elders, and if this be true, it is the only known crop that will kill them 

 out, and that, too, without pasturing. My opinion further, too, is that 

 alfalfa will grow wherever elders will grow. 



One of my intimate acquaintances has been raising alfalfa during the 

 past three years on land situated on the bank of the Missouri river. 

 There is on this farm three different kinds of soil. One sandy, one gumbo 

 and a streak of white sand. He cut it three times the first year. The 

 first crop was thrown to the stock because of the weeds, but the senond 

 and third crop was put into the barn. Had eight acres and it yielded a ton 

 to the acre at each cutting. He sowed that piece the middle of April, 

 sowed twenty-five pounds to the acre. The ground was in oats the year 



